CHAPTER XVI 



SLIM GOES ON STRIKE 



IT was the heart of the Arctic summer and 

 the high hills that rose all about the town 

 were green with deep grass — it looked as if 

 it would reach a man's waist — and ablaze with 

 wild flowers. I was surprised to see such a riot 

 of blooms in this far northern latitude, but there 

 they were, and every off-shore breeze was sweet 

 with their fragrance. The village was dingy 

 enough, but the country looked alluring and, as 

 the day after we dropped anchor was Sunday 

 and nothing to do aboard, the crew decided to 

 ask for a day's liberty ashore. Bill White, the 

 Englishman, and Slim, our Royal Life Guards- 

 man, agreed to act as the forecastle's ambassa- 

 dors to the cabin. They dressed up in their 

 smartest clothes and went aft to interview Cap- 

 tain Shorey on the quarter-deck. White made 



